District News

This past Saturday, February 28, Waco ISD elementary students across the district cooked up their favorite healthy, kid-friendly recipes. They went head-to-head in the 16th Annual Future Chef Challenge sponsored by Sodexo and hosted by Waco ISD Child Nutrition Services. 

The brand-new Waco High School culinary kitchen was filled with the hum of the 3rd through 5th grade students who were focused on cooking their favorite dishes. Waco High School culinary students served as the elementary students’ sous chefs and helped them navigate the new kitchen. The annual event challenged students to showcase their creativity across seven distinct categories including: healthy attribute, kid appeal, ease of preparation, originality, plate presentation, taste, and student presentation to the judges.

This year’s theme, "Your Favorite Recipe from a Country or Culture Around the World," invited 25 young chefs to bring family traditions to life. After one hour of preparation alongside district staff, students plated 50 bite-sized portions for a panel of judges and the public. Winners in each category took home gift baskets filled with kitchen tools to help them continue honing their craft at home. 

Beyond the trophies, the competition served as a way to honor family recipes and traditions. Kiing Davis presented homemade spinach dip that his dad makes for him when he’s having a bad day, and he brought his dad along with him for the student presentation to the judges! 

Annalysse Beverly said her grandmother taught her how to make banana bread and has helped her start a business to sell the tasty loaves online. Trevor Morris, also known as “Chef T” prepared Chef T’s Thai Noodles and was selected to move on to the Sodexo Future Chef National Competition representing the region.

There are 40 regional winners - the top student chefs from district competitions are judged by a panel of Sodexo chefs during this round of competition. Only five finalists will be selected for national judging. 

"For years, our students have brought their heart and soul to this competition," said Executive Chef Julia Pennington. "This experience gives these kids a real-world look at the culinary field, honoring their family traditions while sparking new dreams. We are teaching them that what they prepare in this kitchen today is a foundation for the impact they will make for a lifetime.”

 

WACO, TX — The Waco ISD Board of Trustees is now accepting letters of interest and resumes from individuals interested in serving as the trustee for At-Large Place 6. The seat became vacant following the resignation of Trustee Keith Guillory, who formally stepped down effective May 2, 2025, after years of dedicated service to the students and families of Waco ISD. 

At-Large Place 6 represents all areas of Waco ISD. Applicants must reside within the boundaries of Waco ISD and meet all eligibility requirements set forth under Texas law, including being a registered voter and having lived continuously in Texas for at least one year and within the Waco ISD boundaries for at least six months prior to appointment. 

Qualified community members who are interested in being considered for the vacancy are asked to submit a letter of interest and a current resume by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Submissions should be emailed to renee.charles@wacoisd.org. 

The Board of Trustees will review the submitted materials and anticipates making an appointment at a future board meeting. The selected individual will serve until the next regular election in May 2027, when the seat will be placed on the ballot for the remainder of the unexpired term. 

“We are grateful for Mr, Guillory’s years of service and steady leadership,” said Mr. Jose Vidaña, president of the Waco ISD Board of Trustees. “We look forward to identifying a candidate who is equally committed to public education and to supporting the students, staff, and families of our district.” 

For more information about the Board of Trustees, including maps of trustee districts and board policies, visit wacoisd.org/board. 

 

WACO, TX – Waco Independent School District is proud to announce the appointment of Kimberly Winters, Ed.D., as the new Executive Director of Student Support Services. A veteran educator with over 20 years of experience in public education, Dr. Winters brings a distinguished track record of systems leadership and a deep commitment to student well-being to the district.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Winters to the Waco ISD team," said Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Superintendent of Waco ISD. "Her expertise in building relationship-centered systems and her heart for student support make her the perfect leader for this role. I am incredibly excited to see the impact her collaborative approach and strategic vision will have as we work to ensure every student in our care has the resources and encouragement they need to thrive."

Dr. Winters’ joins Waco ISD from Belton ISD, where she has served as the principal of Belton New Tech at Waskow High School since 2021. During her tenure there, she successfully led the campus’s transition into a comprehensive high school while achieving a TEA "A" rating. Her leadership was instrumental in expanding equitable access for diverse student populations, including Emergent Bilingual students and those receiving Special Education and 504 services.

"My leadership is grounded in the belief that relationship-centered practices, paired with coherent and equitable systems, are essential to student success," Dr. Winters stated.

Throughout her 13 years as a campus principal in Belton and Round Rock ISDs, Dr. Winters has demonstrated exceptional strength in aligning student support services to include counseling, social-emotional learning, and attendance interventions that remove barriers to academic success. Her notable achievements include:

System Innovation: Coordinated multi-tiered systems of support and streamlined student services to ensure seamless, effective interventions across departments.

Safety and Culture: Reduced discipline incidents by 30 percent at Noel Grisham Middle School through student-centered practices.

Community Engagement: Integrated parents and community partners directly into the educational process through student exhibitions, wraparound support initiatives, and transparent admissions processes.

Academic Leadership: Opened and led a STEAM-focused middle school and mentored novice principals in student-centered decision-making.

Dr. Winters holds a Texas Superintendent Certification and earned her doctorate with research focused on workforce alignment and student access. She is also a graduate of the prestigious Holdsworth Principal Pipeline.

In her new role, Dr. Winters will oversee Waco ISD’s district-wide student support service programs, focusing on her core competencies in data-driven improvement, cross-departmental collaboration, and fostering environments where every student is seen and supported.

 

WACO, TX — Waco Independent School District is proud to announce that our Superintendent has been selected as a 2025-26 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA). This prestigious national honor recognizes school district leaders who demonstrate dynamic, fast-paced leadership and a steadfast commitment to clear, impactful communication.

Out of a highly competitive field of nominees from across the country, our Superintendent is one of only 30 leaders nationwide to receive this distinction this year. The award is specifically designed for superintendents with fewer than five years of experience who excel at using innovative communication technology to engage their school communities and integrate these efforts into their district's strategic vision.

"This recognition is a testament to the hard work and collective vision of our entire Waco ISD team," said Dr. Tiffany Spicer. "Transparent communication is the foundation of the trust we build with our families and staff. It ensures that every student’s potential remains our top priority as we move forward together."

Under the current leadership, Waco ISD has reached significant milestones, including:

• The launch of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes radical intentionality in closing student achievement gaps.
• An upward trend in graduation rates, reaching approximately 86% for the 2024-2025 school year.
• The implementation of the Office of School Leadership to support and empower campus leaders in real-time.

NSPRA officially announced this year’s honorees in an all-member alert today, January 9, 2026. The recipients will be formally recognized at the NSPRA 2026 National Seminar this July in New Orleans.

For more information about Waco ISD’s initiatives and the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, please visit wacoisd.org.

 

WACO, TX – Waco Independent School District (Waco ISD) is thrilled to announce the selection of Lanny Williams as the district's new Director of Athletics. Williams will take the reins from Coach Ed Love, who served Waco ISD students and families for 44 years. Love will retire in December 2025. 

Williams brings a distinguished career of 26 years in educational and athletic leadership, with a strong background in promoting academic excellence, strategic planning, and fostering a positive, competitive culture. He most recently served as the Director of Athletics for Manor Independent School District.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lanny Williams to lead Waco ISD Athletics. Our selection process focused intently on finding a leader who is deeply committed to the well-being and academic success of our student-athletes,” Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Superintendent of Waco ISD, said. “His vision for building a unified, character-driven program across all our schools aligns perfectly with Waco ISD’s commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom.”

As the Director of Athletics, Williams will oversee all aspects of the district’s athletic programs, focusing on developing confident and resilient student-athletes who carry those traits beyond sports, which aligns with Waco ISD's mission to instill virtues like perseverance and responsibility.

“I am excited to join the Waco ISD community and lead the athletic department to continued excellence,” Williams stated. “I look forward to working collaboratively with our dedicated coaches, committed student-athletes, parents, and community partners. Our focus will be on ensuring every student has a positive, enriching experience that prepares them for success long after graduation.”

Williams holds a degree in Physical Education from Texas College and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from Lamar University. He has been recognized as District Coach of the Year five times, compiled winning records as Head Baseball Coach at Cedar Park High School (59-16-2) and Brenham High School (159-80-2) and served in athletic administration roles in Brenham ISD and Killeen ISD before serving in Manor.

Waco ISD looks forward to a new era of continued growth and success under Williams’ leadership. His first day in the district will be January 5, 2026.